BD's Spiritual Adventures 2011
Last year I had a desire for "More of the power and presence of Jesus"...this year I realize I need to invest more into prayer if I'm ever to experience this. "When men work, men work. When men pray, God works." In my church culture God's will is contained in His word the Bible and we typically ask God to bless our efforts in response to this. God seems a long way off and sometimes Bible study feels like we are studying the biography of a wise dead man and his words!? But if Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, is he not present and active? Does God speak beyond rational Bible reading? Can we only administer words of hope, healing, forgiveness, inspiration, or can we see Jesus impart the experience of hope, healing, forgiveness, inspiration? How come I see so little of his power? How come the church seems so weak? Maybe this is just me, or my part of the world? Hmmmm stay tuned for more on this.
Chile Adventure Trip (by the numbers)
23 team members, 3 nationalities, $12,000 raised, 38 square meter home built for Shadrach with Homes of Hope, 5 days to fix out a beauty salon, 54 tools racked in constructed workshop, 30 cubic meters of hand mixed concrete poured for a gymnasium, 10-15' maximum wave size, 12 degrees minimum water temperature, 48 local competitors in Pura Vida Surf Festival event, 10 Chilean friends accompanied us on road trip, 7.0 earthquake that evacuated our road trip, 286 number of Churros consumed (and that was just Aaron), 21 - birthday of Lisa, 18 - birthday of Taylor, 28 number of surfboards loaded on Mitch's truck on arrival, 20 hours maximum recovery sleep time in 2 days by Tim, 2 hours minimum sleep time in 2 days heading over by BD, forever - impact on our lives by the people of Chile. To read a full report, head to BD's Blog at http://bdcsi.blogspot.com.
Japan Stop Press
One hour after the huge earthquake in Japan I got a message from our CS Japan National Director, David Levey, that they were ok but they feared for their friends living by the coast. It seems all CS Japan members survived ok, but huge sections of the north Japan surfing community are affected. CS Japan are joining in with an aid relief program called CRASH with the combined churches and Dave has already been on one road trip in a truck distributing water and food in Fukishima. They have evacuated Shinko and kids to California. Dave says God is shaking the spiritual foundations of Japan.
Foundations Training is...Foundational?
For so many years our leadership training has been sporadic and uncoordinated. Over the past 4 years I have been refining some foundational leadership principles that cover integrity, gospel, team, partnerships, CS fundamentals, legal and surf culture. This year I will help roll out a leadership training strategy with trainers, manual, online availability and DVD. Our vision is that every leader is trained up in this and better equipped for ministry.
BD's Regional Adventures
For the first time this year CSI is encouraging regional leadership conferences in the off year to the International Conference. Coming up this year are: Pacific Conference April 20, Africa Conference April 27, Europe Conference May 16, Asia Conference July 15, Americas Conference July 28. These are very strategic leadership gatherings and Brett will be speaking and training at each. Being a Qantas staff travel buddy means doing this at minimal expense and cost to the international community. I need a new travel buddy in July, can you think of someone who might sign me up?
Great Things to Support
Japan Aid Relief. David and Shinko and members of CS Japan are supporting the CRASH program in Honda City. They have spent over $2,000 of their own money for emergency relief and another $4,500 in evacuating the family. Donate via CSI and note as 'Japan Relief' or 'Levey support'. 100% guaranteed aid relief by people on the ground to people on the ground.
Leadership Development Scholarships. For $500 you can ensure an emerging world leader makes one of our regional leadership conferences. There is need for scholarships for Venezuela, Brazil, Morocco, Sri Lanka, El Salvador and Costa Rica.
G-Land Surf Resort wants Surfers Bibles. Joyo's Surf Resort at world class surf destination G-Land is owned by a Christian family who have invited CSI to provide chaplains, to whom they will provide free food and accommodation for a month. For $30 we can place a pack of 4 different language Surfers Bibles into a room - there are 25 rooms. Apply to be a chaplain and distribute Surfers Bibles throughout the surfing world from G-Land?
Mission Partners. CSI currently has 32 partners generating $16,000 and we want to grow this to 100 partners generating $60,000. Sign up at http://www.christiansurfers.net/Partnership.aspx.
There are many more great things to support. Visit http://www.christiansurfers.net/Donation.aspx to learn more.
Gill Online
She would have NEVER done this except for a years worth of pushing, and I am hard pressed even getting this notice by the censor - but Gill has a website - gilliandavis.com.au! After so many asking her for copies of her speaking and information about what she does, we now have Gill online. She recently completed the Women of Purpose Conference in Brisbane and is just as happy sharing biblical truth with unchurched teenagers. She is bravely taking a bunch to an upcoming youth convention in Katoomba.
Taylor in the Real World
"They expect you to work from 9-5 all week! What if the surf is good?!" was a surprised Taylor comment after his first real job interview. He walked through the door a taller man after a month in Chile including travelling alone on a bus between Argentina and Chile. He surfed the best waves of his life and now knows he does not want to be a builder's labourer!
Jackson Moved
"I washed my first load of clothes...and how do you cook grannies chicken?" These are the sort of phone conversations we have become used to with living-out-of-home Jackson. He is co directing the second year production as well as preparing his own. Busy with a double degree and working at a restaurant, he is our working man! Sadly our Delica van blew up while he was driving home from Albury - Doh! Dough $6k!
India Dancing Through Life
"I think about dancing and new moves all day long." India is in two dance groups and also cheerleading. They don't cheer anyone, nor do they lead, but they have a lot of fun launching one another into the air and combining dance and gymnastics. She has an ongoing stomach problem, has missed school and bravely perseveres.
Calvin
"Irreversible degenerative spine condition" is what the vet has diagnosed Calvin the wonder dog with. We have noticed him slowing down and limping in the mornings (not unlike his owner). He has anti-arthritis injections, pain control tablets and a new walking regime...all for a price that exceeds our own kids medical visits?
CSI Partners Dinners
We feel we have to address the fact that 95% of all CSI monies come from Australia. This year partners dinners are being hosted on the Gold Coast, April 9 (ok, that is still Australia), UK May 20, California September 16, and Hawaii December 3. A lower key Sydney update will be hosted October 15. You are all invited! You can sign up as a partner right now on http://www.christiansurfers.net/Partnership.aspx.
CSI Volunteer Profile
Lisa Imisides has taken over as our Financial Manager. Lisa is married to Phil, she has 3 kids, is studying accounting and is such a perfectionist when it comes to admin...and we love you Lisa! She makes sure the money comes in and goes out in the best possible way. Go ahead, make her day, by making a donation!
Praise God for:
- Amazing Chile mission trip and building
- Foundations Training package finalized and funded
- Gill's impact in preaching and teaching
- CS Japan members all ok
Coming up, please pray for:
- Ongoing spiritual awakening within our family
- Brett's busy April/May Conferences NZ April 19-22, South Africa April 27-May 4, France May 12-22
- Partners dinner Gold Coast April 9
- Foundations Training strategy to impact our leadership
- Japan recovery and CS Japan contribution to be determined and acted
- Davis Delica Van engine rebuild is $6,500 ouch! But we so believe in the service this van provides
- Davis family has 85% of support raised, still short $500/month of our target
Support Brett & Gill
We are now employees of CSI, so you can become a supporter in the following ways:
- Pray more specifically with our email prayer updates
- Join our regular financial support team, we are short 5 partners @$100/month or 10 @$50/month
- Offer some skill in graphic design, IT, administration, local mission help
- Donations for Brett and Gill's personal family support are to be made out to 'Christian Surfers International' and direct debit is the most convenient way, please indicate your deposit as 'Davis support'.
Bank: Westpac, 84 King St, Sydney, NSW, 2000
SWIFT code: WPACAU2S
Branch code: 032003
Account #: 455234
